LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – For the first time in 18 days, the UNLV men’s basketball team (9-2) will return home to the Thomas & Mack Center as it hosts Mississippi Valley State (0-11) on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. The Runnin’ Rebels have won three straight games – most recently, 81-76, at Pacific on Saturday night.

The 2nd Annual Teddy Bear Toss will be held at halftime of Wednesday night’s game as all fans are encouraged to bring a new, stuffed toy to benefit the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation. The first 500 fans to bring new, stuffed toy will receive a $5 concessions voucher.

Tickets for Wednesday’s game may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com, on the phone at (702) 739-FANS or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office.

The Runnin’ Rebels rank as the No. 5 rebounding team in the country with 44.6 rpg, are sixth in scoring with 90.5 ppg, eighth in 3-point field-goal defense (27.7) and 10th in assists per game with 18.9. Individually, freshman forward Brandon McCoy and junior forward Shakur Juiston rank in the top 10 in the country in rebounding. McCoy is seventh with 11.3 rpg, while Juiston is ninth with 11.0 rpg. UNLV is the only team in the nation with two top-10 rebounders. McCoy ranks fifth in double-doubles with eight, while Juiston is 22nd with five. Senior guard Jordan Johnson is 12th in the nation in assists with 7.1 apg.

The 2017-18 season marks the second under head coach Marvin Menzies for the Runnin’ Rebels. Menzies and his staff brought in a recruiting class for this year that has been ranked as high as No. 12 in the country and features McCoy, who was a McDonald’s High School All-American, and Juiston, last year’s National Junior College Player of the Year. The Runnin’ Rebels also returned their leading scorer from last season – senior guard Jovan Mooring. Four Runnin’ Rebels are averaging double figures, led by McCoy’s 20.3 ppg, which ranks first in the Mountain West.

Wednesday’s game will be televised by AT&T SportsNet with Conor McGahey and Dave Bollwinkel calling the action. Jon Sandler and former Runnin’ Rebel Robert Smith will handle the UNLV radio call, which may be heard live on ESPN Radio 1100 AM/100.9 FM and online via the UNLV Gameday App and TuneIn (link at UNLVRebels.com).